Plastic cover crimped to flanged metal body



March 8, 1966 J. HENCHERT PLASTIC COVER CRIMPED TO FLANGED METAL BODY Original Filed Oct. 14, 1959 l//I .l Il 111A ffl IN VEN TOR. JoH/v HE/vcHERr /lm WL,

/l M043 A TORNEYS United States Patent O 3,239,094 PLASTIC CVER CRIWPED T FLANGED METAL RUDY John Henchert, Oak Park, Ill., assignor to Continental Can Company, Inc., New York, N .Y., a corporation of New York Original application Oct. 14, 1959, Ser. No. 846,318, now Patent No. 3,128,008, dated Apr. 7, 1964. Divided and this application Feb. 10, 1964, Ser. No. 343,569 1 Claim. (Cl. 2211-67) This is a division of my copending application Serial No. 846,318, filed October 14, 1959, now Patent No. 3,128,008.

This invention relates in general to new and useful improvements in container construction, and primarily seeks to provide a novel plastic cover for metal container bodies.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel plastic cover for a flanged end of a can body, the plastic cover being provided with a flange construction which may be snapped over and interlocked with the flange of the can body to retain the plastic cover on the can body.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel container which includes a metal can body having a flanged end, and a plastic cover, the plastic cover being snapped onto the can body and having an interlock with the flange of the can body to retain the plastic cover in place, the plastic cover also having a depending skirt which snugly engages the exterior surface of the can body and forms a seal therewith.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel container construction which includes a metal can body having an inturned flange at one end thereof, a plastic cover overlying the one end of the can body and having a depending skirt which is telescoped over the one end of the can body and which snugly engages the exterior surface of the can body in sealed relation, the plastic cover additionally having an annular hook type flange which is hooked under and around the flange of the can body to interlock the cover with the can body and retain the cover on the can body.

With the above, and other objects in View that will hereinafter appear, the nature of the invention will be more clearly understood by reference to the following etailed description, the appended claim, and the several views illustrated in the accompanying drawing:

In the drawing:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary vertical sectional View taken through the container `showing the plastic cover in its initial snapped-on position relative to the can body.

FIGURE 2 is a sectional view similar to FIGURE 1, of the container of FIGURE 1, with the cover secured onto the can body after a seaming operation has been completed.

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view similar to FIGURE 1, and `shows a second embodiment of the invention with the plastic cover in its initial snapped-on position relative to the can body.

FIGURE 4 is a vertical sectional view taken through the container of FIGURE 3 after a seaming operation has been completed on the flanges of the can body and the cover.

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken through the cover of FIGURES 3 and 4 prior to its positioning on the can body.

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view similar to FIGURE 1 and shows a third modification 3,239,094 Patented Mar. 8, 1966 ICC of the invention, the plastic cover being illustrated in its initial snapped-on position with respect to the can body.

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of a preferred embodiment of the invention wherein the plastic cover is of the snap-on type, and is shown in its final position with respect to the can body.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, reference is had to FIGURES 1 and 2, wherein .a first embodiment of the invention is illustrated. The container of FIG- URES 1 and 2 is generally referred to by the numeral 10, the container 10 being formed of a metal can body, generally referred to by the numeral 11, and a plastic cover or can end, generally referred to by the numeral 12.

The metal can body 11 is of a conventional structure, and the structural details thereof are shown for illustrative purposes only. The can body 11 is illustrated las being of the type having a tear strip 13 and reinforced by a collar 14, the collar 14 terminating at the upper end thereof in a rolled edge 15 which is spaced below the upper end of the can body 11. The can body 11 is provided with a bead 16 in which a lower portion 17 of the collar 14 is seated, thus retaining the collar 14 in place. The upper end of the can body 11 terminates in a downwardly and outwardly directed reversely bent flange 18.

The plastic cover 12 is formed of any suitable Stretchable and resilient plastic, although under certain conditions, it may be desirable to form the cover 12 of a transparent plastic so that the contents of the container 10 may be inspected while the container remains in its sealed state.

The cover 12 includes a recessed end defining portion 19 which is defined by a depending, generally V-shaped cross-sectional rib 20, which forms a recess 20 for a purpose to be described hereinafter. The cover 19 also includes an outer, generally U-shaped portion which is formed by a depending flange 21 and a return flange 22, the flanges 21 and 22 being connected together by a lower bight portion 23. An annular skirt 24 extends from the bight portion 23 immediately adjacent its intersection with the return flange 22, the skirt 24 being disposed generally at right angles to the return flange 22.

In assembling the container 10, the can body 11 and the cover 12 are snapped together, as they appear in FIGURE 1. At this time, the bead 20 rests upon the rolled edge 15 of the collar 14, and the flange 18 is received in the U-shaped portion dened by the flanges 21, 22, and the bight portion 23. Also, the skirt 24 has the lower portion thereof engaged with the exterior of the can body 11, the skirt being slightly deflected from it normal position.

The recess 20 permits the insertion of a seaming chuck during a seaming operation. After the can body 11 and the cover 12 have been assembled, as illustrated in FIG- URE 1, they are placed within a seaming machine and the flange 18 is turned down to a position generally parallel to the upper portion of the can body 11, in which position the flange 18 tightly clamps the flange 22 against the upper portion of the can body 11. The seam formed by the flanges 18, 21 and 22, is generally referred to by the numeral 25 and forms a first seal between the can body 11 and the cover 12. In the formation of the seam 25, the skirt 24 has the upper portion thereof moved towards the can body 11, with the result that the skirt 24 is further deflected from its original position, and a major portion of the skirt 24 engages the exterior surface of the can body 11. Since the skirt 24, like the remainder of the cover 12 of which it is an integral part, is formed of a flexible and resilient material, the skirt 24 snugly engages the exterior surface of the can body 11 and forms a seal therewith.

Reference is now made to FIGURES 3 and 4 of the drawings wherein a second form of container, generally referred to by the numeral 3f), is illustrated. The container 30, like the container 1G, is formed of a metal can body 31 and a plastic cover 32.

The metal can body 31 is of the type having a tear strip 33 to facilitate the opening thereof. The upper portion of the can body 31 is reinforced by an internal collar 34 which terminates at its upper end in a rolled edge 35. The can body 31 has a bead 36 in which a lower portion 37 of the collar 34 seats to retain the collar 34 in place. The upper end of the can body 31 terminates in an inwardly directed reversely bent flange 38.

The plastic cover 32 includes an end defining portion 39, which portion is defined by an outer annular recessed portion 40. The recessed portion 40 has the outer part thereof defined by a U-shaped portion of the cover 32, which U-shaped portion includes a pair of flanges 41 and 42 which are connected together by a bight portion 43. The bight portion 43 is a continuation of the recessed portion 4t). The flange 41 continues up and over and has integrally connected thereto a depending skirt 44.

The initial shape of the cover 32 is best illustrated in FIGURE 5. It is to be noted that the flanges 41 and 42 are generally rounded. When the cover 32 is snapped in place on the can body 31 into the position illustrated in FIGURE 3, the flange 42 engages up beneath the flange 3S. Also, during the positioning of the cover 32 on the can body 31, the skirt 44 is tensioned so that it snugly engages the exterior surface of the can body 31 and forms a seal therewith.

After the cover 32 has been snapped onto the can body 31, the assembled container is placed in a seaming machine and a seaming chuck moves into the recess defined by the recessed portion 40. The function of the seaming machine is to move the flange 3S towards the main portion of the can body 31 and to clamp the flange 42 of the cover between the flange 38 and the can body 31. At the same time, the flange 41 moves together with the flange 38 and the flange 42. During the seaming operation, the end defining portion 39 and the recessed portion 40 are circumferentially and radially stretched, the plastic material from which the cover 32 is formed being resilient and stretchable.

Reference is now had to FIGURE 6 wherein another embodiment of the invention is illustrated. This third embodiment of the invention is generally referred to by the numeral 50, and includes the can body 11, or an identical can body, on which a modified form of cover 52 is positioned. The cover 52 includes an end defining portion 53 which is centrally located and which is defined by a generally V-shaped depending portion 54. The depending portion 54 defines an upwardly opening recess 55 for the reception of a seaming chuck. It is also to be noted that the depending portion 54 seats on the rolled edge 15, like the portion does with respect to the rolled edge 15 and the recessed portion 4G does with respect to the rolled edge 35.

The V-shaped portion 54 extends up and over the upper end of the can body 11 and terminates in a generally U-shaped portion which includes a pair of flanges 56 and 57 which are connected together by an intermediate portion 5S. The intermediate portion 58 may be broadly considered a bight portion. A skirt 59 depends from the intermediate portion 58.

In FIGURE 6, the cover 52 is illustrated in its initial position with respect to the can body 11 prior to the passing thereof through a seaming machine. The flange 18 is overlaid by the flange 56, and the flange 57 partially underlies the flange 18, the flange 18 being generally received in the U-shaped portion defined by the flanges 56 and 57 and the intermediate portion 58. At this time, the skirt 59 is spaced from the can body 11.

After the cover S2 and the can body 11 have been assembled, as is illustrated in FGURE 6, the container 5f is passed through a seaming machine which will bend the flange 13 inwardly to a position such as that illustrated in FIGURE 2. The flange 1S then clamps the flange 57 against the upper portion of the exterior can body 11, pulling the flange 56 therewith. Thus, first seal is formed between the cover 52 and the can body 11. As the flange 53 is bent to the position illustrated in FIGURE 2, the skirt 59 is also moved inwardly towards the can body 11 and is moved into compressive engagement therewith, thus forming a seal between the skirt 59 and the can body 11, the second seal supplementing the seal of the seam between the can body and the cover.

Reference is now made to the preferred embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIGURE 7 and generally referred to by the numeral 60. The container 6i) includes a metal can body, generally referred to by the numeral 61, and a plastic cover, generally referred to by the numeral 62.

The can body 61 has an upper bead 63 and terminates at its upper end in an inwardly turned reversely bent flange 64.

The cover 62 is formed of a plastic material, and is of the snap-on type. The cover 62 includes an end member 65 which terminates at its periphery in a depending skirt 66. A generally J-shaped hook ring 67 depends from the underside of the end member 65 and receives the flange 64 to thus interlock the cover 62 with the can body 61 and retain the cover 62 in place. It is to be understood that the initial interior diameter of the skirt 66 is less than the exterior diameter of the can body 61. Thus, when the cover 62 is positioned, the skirt 66 is stretched over the can body 61 and snugly engages the same to form a seal therewith.

Although only cross-sections of the various containers have been illustrated, it is to be understood that each of the containers is of a circular cross-section, and that the various components of the can bodies are annular. This is also true of the covers associated with the can bodies.

It is also pointed out at this time that the can bodies may be of any suitable construction, the can bodies not being limited to either a beaded can body or one having a tear strip. It is merely necessary that the can body be provided at the upper end thereof with a depending flange of the type illustrated in the several views of the drawings.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that novel and advantageous provisions have been made for carrying out the desired end. However, attention is again directed to the fact that variations may be made in the example embodiments of the invention disclosed herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, as dened in the appended claim.

I claim:

A container comprising a sheet metal body of substantially uniform thickness and a one-piece flexible plastic cover, said metal body having an inwardly disposed reversely bent annular flange at one end thereof with the upper portion of said metal body being of an inverted generally I-shaped configuration in section, said plastic cover including an end wall terminating in a depending skirt telescoped over said metal body end and snugly engaging the outer surface of said metal body in sealed relation, and an annular hook part of J-shaped cross sec- Vtion depending from said end wall radially inwardly of said skirt, said hook part including a depending leg and an outwardly directed flange generally defining therebetween an outwardly facing seat, said hook part being hooked beneath said body flange with said hook part flange being disposed in face-to-face contact with said metal body.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,075,643 10/1913 Gower 220-59 1,158,622 11/1915 Blakeslee 21S-38 6 1,797,033 3/ 1931 Williams 220-59 2,266,270 12/1941 Roth 215-47 2,909,228 10/ 1959 Connors. v

FOREIGN PATENTS 1,064,521 5/1954 France.

THERON E. CONDON, Primary Examiner.

GEORGE O. RALSTON, Examiner. 

